Emotional farewell for murdered Klawer teen
HUNDREDS of mourners gathered to pay their last respects as murdered Klawer teen Jerobejin van Wyk was laid to rest.
Yesterday morning around 250 people filled the Klawer community hall where the 13-year-old’s funeral was taking place, just weeks after his murder earlier this month.
The funeral comes after the teen’s remains, which were found in a drain, were positively identified as his, after he had been reported missing hours after he left home to go and pick mangoes with a friend.
A local, Daniel Smit, has since been charged with murder, kidnapping, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and defeating the ends of justice.
According to reports, Smit had pursued Jerobejin and his friend in his bakkie after he spotted them picking mangoes from a tree on his property. He drove after the boys before he allegedly knocked Jerobejin down, put him in his bakkie before driving off.
Family members wearing T-shirts and face masks with pictures of the boy’s face printed on them, were inconsolable as his small white casket was carried into the hall, with the marching band’s steps echoing in the background.
The funeral procession began at the family home, where his mother, Triesa van Wyk, was comforted by relatives as she sobbed at the sight of her son’s coffin being carried away.
Councillor Jan Koopman, asked the community to keep the mother in their prayers as she continued to be plagued by the questions to as why her son was murdered.
Smit is expected back in court on April 26 after his case was postponed for further investigation. His lawyer has since released statements alluding to the fact that her client had been in a cult group as a teenager, and that evil spirits made him kill the boy.